Heuschrecke 10

:"Waffenträger and Heuschrecke redirect here because the names Waffenträger and Heuschrecke are the informal names used to describe the Heuschrecke 10."Infobox Weapon
name= Heuschrecke 10


caption= A Heuschrecke 10 in winter camouflage on display.
origin=Nazi Germany
type= Prototype self-propelled howitzercite encyclopedia | title = Heuschrecke 10 (EoWoWWII) | encyclopedia = The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II | volume = 1 | pages = 540 | publisher = Sterling PublishingCompany, Inc | date = | id = | accessdate = December 17 | isbn = 1586637622] cite web |url = http://www.panzerlexikon.de/proto.htm |language=German |title = Panzerlexikon: Deutsche Prototypen]
is_vehicle=yes
length= 6.00 meters - convert|19.69|ft|m|2|abbr=on
width= 3.00 meters - convert|9.84|ft|m|2|abbr=on
height= convert|9.84|ft|m|2|abbr=on
weight= 23 Tonnes
suspension= leaf spring
speed= convert|27.96|mi/h|km/h|2|abbr=on
vehicle_range= On a road : 300 kilometers - 186 miles
primary_armament= 105 millimeter leFH 18/1 L/28
secondary_armament=
armour= Listed below
engine= Maybach HL 90 / 12-cylinder / Convert|360|hp|kW|0|abbr=on
crew= 5 men (commander, 3 gunners and driver)
engine_power=
pw_ratio=

The Heuschrecke 10 ( _de. Grasshopper 10) was a prototype self-propelled gun and "Waffenträger" (German: "Weapon carrier") developed by Krupp-Gruson between 1943 and 1944. The official designation of the vehicle was "105 mm leichte Feldhaubitze 18/1 L/28 auf Waffenträger Geschützwagen IVb" and it was to be built in Magdeburg, Germany. The Heuschrecke featured a removable turret that could be deployed as a pillbox or towed behind the vehicle as an artillery piece.

Krupp produced only three prototypes from 1942–1943, which were given serial numbers 582501–582503. The Heuschrecke initially made use of a shortened Panzerkampfwagen IV (Panzer IV) chassis, but was later switched to the "Geschützwagen IV" chassis developed for the "Hummel" self propelled gun. Mass production of the Heuschrecke 10 was scheduled to start in February 1945, but never eventuated.

History

Precursor

Towards the end of September 1939, Krupp designed the "first real self-propelled artillery piece", the "Sonderkraftfahrzeug 165/1" (Special Purpose Vehicle 165/1, abbreviated Sd.Kfz. 165/1). The Sd.Kfz. 165/1 was similar in design to the Heuschrecke, but did not have the chassis mounted launching mechanism to remove the turret.cite web |url = http://www.achtungpanzer.com/wafft.htm |title = Achtung Panzer! Heuschrecke 10 |accessmonthday = November 24 |accessyear = 2007 |language = English]

After a series of tests, the Sd.Kfz. 165/1 was accepted by the Wehrmacht in early January 1940. In 1941, Krupp built prototype vehicles armed with the 105 mm "leichte Feldhaubitze" 18/1 L/28 (light field howitzer 18/1 L/28, abbreviated leFH 18/1 L/28) cannon based on a modified Panzer IV chassis. The prototypes were fitted with a smaller 6-cylinder Maybach HL66P engine, which had a power capacity of Convert|188|hp|kW|0|abbr=on. Although 200 vehicles were ordered, Krupp completed only 10 prototypes in the last four months of 1942.

Development

The design phase of the Heuschrecke began in 1942, when Krupp began a new type of self-propelled artillery. In 1943, Krupp produced three prototypes (Serial Numbers 582501–582503) that were designated as either the Heuschrecke 10 or the Heuschrecke IVb. The Heuschrecke was intended as a replacement for the Wespe, an older self-propelled howitzer, as of May 1944. This was because it possessed thicker armour, the proven Panzer IV chassis and a removable turret.

The vehicle was intended for use in the Soviet Union to assist the attempted take-over of Moscow. It was meant to replace the tanks and artillery that were lost in the Battle of Voronezh, in which the Hungarians had retreated, losing their equipment, tanks and artillery in the process. The Heuschrecke was to serve as a dual purpose replacement weapon-carrier, being a quick replacement for the lost artillery and, with the turret in place, an equivalent to the Panzer IV tank.cite web |url = http://ww2armor.jexiste.fr/Mythicpanzers/English-Files/Vehicles/02-MittlerePanzers/Panzer4/19-Conversions.htm |title = Pz.Kpfw IV (Sonderkraftfahrzeug.161, 161/1, 161/2) |accessmonthday = February 23 |accessyear = 2008 |language = English]

imilar Vehicle

The Heuschrecke designed by Krupp was similar in design to a vehicle built by Alkett/Rhinemetall-Borsig, the "105 mm leFH 18/40/2 auf Geschützwagen III/IV", which was ready in March 1944. The competing Rhinemetall-Borsig model had overall slightly better performance than that of Krupps' vehicle. It was decided, however, to utilise an alternate chassis on the Rhinemetall-Borsig model; that of the Panzer IV. Production was to start in October 1944 but the chassis choice was changed to that of the Geschützwagen IV in December 1944. Production was then intended to commence in February 1945, but none were produced.

Cancellation

The development of the Heuschrecke was canceled in February 1943. cite web|title= Achtung Panzer - Pz4|url=http://www.achtungpanzer.com/pz4.htm |accessdaymonth=February 23 |accessyear=2008 |language=English] The cancellation occurred so as to further enable the construction of Panzer IV tanks. The quantity of materials that were needed for the construction of weapon-carriers were so great that companies like Krupp were told to stop production.cite encyclopedia |year=1997 |title =Panther Variants, 1942-45 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=1855324768] The majority of the weapon-carriers never left the production stage.

High-Commands' opinion

The Nazi high-command thought that the production of the Heuschrecke would disrupt the production of the Panzer tanks that were needed to defend Germany from the attacking Allies.cite encyclopedia |year=1999 |title =Panzerkampfwagen IV Medium Tank 1936–1945 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=1855328437] The Heuschrecke was seen as viable by the General of the Wehrmacht during the Second World War, Heinz Guderian, who thought that they would allow for more versatile circumstances. [cite web|title= Achtung Panzer! - Heinz Guderian|url=http://www.achtungpanzer.com/gen2.htm |accessdaymonth=February 26 |accessyear=2008 |language=English] Guderian agreed though that their development was not worth the disruption to tank production.

Description

Turret

The distinguishing feature of the Heuschrecke was a removable turret. A lifting gantry (crane) attached to the chassis could remove the turret for use on concrete fortifications or the ground. Although the howitzer could also be fired from the chassis, the vehicle was designed to carry the artillery piece to a firing emplacement for removal before firing. The turretless vehicle could be used as an ammunition carrier or recovery vehicle. The prototype turret was armed with the 105 mm leFH 18/1 L/28. The production models, however, were to have the 105 mm leFH 43 L/28.

Chassis

The Heuschrecke consisted of a welded steel hull, with a thickness ranging from 10 to 25 millimeters, with sloped armour so that incoming fire would be deflected more effectively. It had a large ammunition stowage making it one of the chosen ammunition-carriers to help alleviate the losses.

The original prototype engine that was to be used was the 12-cylinder Maybach HL90, but for the production models, the 12-cylinder Maybach HL100 was chosen. The Heuschrecke's gearbox had four forward gears and one reverse gear ratio. The first and second gears delivered equal speed, but the second provided more torque. The third and fourth gears provided more speed than the former two.

Weight

The Heuschrecke weighed 23 tonnes,cite web |url = http://www.balsi.de/Weltkrieg/Waffen/Artillerie/Heuschrecke.htm |title = Selbstfahrlafette "Heuschrecke" |accessmonthday = December 07 |accessyear = 2007 |language = German] less than the Soviet SU-122, which weighed 30.9 tonnes, [cite web |url = http://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=86 |title = Military Factory - SU-122 |accessmonthday = March 3 |accessyear = 2008 |language = English] and the Canadian Sexton which weighed approximately 25.86 tonnes. The American M7 Priest weighed approximately 22.97 tonnes, slightly less than the Heuschrecke. [cite web |url = http://www.wwiivehicles.com/usa/self-propelled-guns/m7-m37.asp |title = WWII Vehicles - M7 Priest |accessmonthday = March 3 |accessyear = 2008 |language = English] It was also less than the Panzer IV which the Heuschrecke derived its chassis from. The Panzer IV weighed only 500 kg more than the Heuschrecke. The only German self-propelled howitzer that weighed less than the Heuschrecke was the Wespe, which weighed only 11 tonnes. [cite web |url = http://www.achtungpanzer.com/wespe.htm |title = Achtung Panzer - Wespe |accessmonthday = February 25 |accessyear = 2008 |language = English]

pecification comparison

ee also

* Self-propelled artillery

References

External links

* [http://www.williammaloney.com/Aviation/AberdeenUSArmyOrdinanceMuseum/GermanTanks/Heuschrecke/index.htm William Maloney]
* [http://the.shadock.club.fr/aberdeen/imagepages/image11.html Shaddock Club]
* [http://gregpanzerblitz.com/Gallery1/Aberdeen_Proving_Grounds/Picture_551 Greg Panzer Blitz Images]
* [http://svsm.org/gallery/grasshoper SVSM Image 1] and [http://svsm.org/gallery/grasshoper?page=2 SVSM Image 2]